Mike Miles on Civil Rights

Committed to protecting human rights & equal rights

We must also work hard to accept diversity and to be a nation that truly respects equal rights and equal opportunity for everyone. Let us walk that talk. When I returned from Moscow in 1995, I worked in my community (Colorado Springs) to support human and civil rights, including for the gay and lesbian community. I was the vice president of the first board of the Human Relations Coalition and a board member of Citizens Project, an organization committed to promoting equal rights. Source: Campaign website, MikeMiles4Senate.com Jun 30, 2004

Oppose the Federal Marriage Amendment

The real issue has to do with recognizing civil unions and the rights of couples joined in non-traditional ways. As all citizens should be equal under the law and should equally enjoy the rights and privileges citizenship bestows, it follows that all couples in good standing should receive the benefits the government allows to couples joined together legally regardless of whether the union is religious or civil. There is no legal reason why a civil union recognized by a state should not stand. Source: Campaign website, MikeMiles4Senate.com Jun 30, 2004

Support the Employment Non-Discrimination Act

Everyone should enjoy equal and fair treatment in the workplace. A person's employment should be based on qualifications and ability to do the job. A person's sexual orientation should not be a hiring consideration nor should it bear any weight in determinations of job performance. As a board member of the Pikes Peak Human Relations Coalition, I worked with others to attempt to revise a city ordinance to include sexual orientation as a trait protected against discrimination. Source: Campaign website, MikeMiles4Senate.com Jun 30, 2004

Support affirmative action programs

As long as discrimination exists, a society must take active steps to ensure equal opportunity and to mitigate the negative affects that the lack of past opportunity created and which is compounded over time. As a member of the Pikes Peak Human Relations Coalition, I tried to raise awareness about subtle discrimination such as a sales person taking longer to attend to a Black person who approaches a counter, or recruitment for prestigious internships in places unlikely to have many people of color. Source: Campaign website, MikeMiles4Senate.com Jun 30, 2004

No Federal Marriage Amendment, but civil unions ok

Equal rights means equal rights for everyone - that includes people who are gay or lesbian. Thus, I oppose the Federal Marriage Amendment. However, I am not opposed to marriage being defined as a union between a man and a woman. Marriage has traditionally been recognized by a religious ceremony and usually holds the imprimatur of the Church. I am, therefore, inclined to grant the Church its due and allow it (and not the government) to define what constitutes marriage. The real issue has to do with recognizing civil unions and the rights of couples joined in non-traditional ways. As all citizens should be equal under the law and should equally enjoy the rights and privileges citizenship bestows, it follows that all couples in good standing should receive the benefits the government allows to couples joined together legally regardless of whether the union is religious or civil. Source: Campaign website, mikemiles4senate.com, "Issues & Positions" Jun 15, 2004

Support Affirmative Action to fight subtle discrimination

As long as discrimination exists - both overt forms and more subtle types - a society must take active steps to ensure equal opportunity and to mitigate the negative affects that the lack of past opportunity created and which is compounded over time. I think most people would agree that we have a way to go still with regard to eliminating discrimination and prejudice. I'm not sure, however, how many of us are truly aware of the extent of subtle forms of discrimination. As a member of the Pikes Peak Human Relations Coalition we tried to raise awareness in the Pikes Peak region around subtle discrimination such as a sales person taking longer to attend to a Black person who approaches a counter, or recruitment for prestigious internships in places unlikely to have many people of color. That's why I support affirmative action programs. It was never meant to give unqualified people a leg up. It provides qualified people an opportunity they would otherwise not have enjoyed. Source: Campaign website, mikemiles4senate.com, "Issues & Positions" Jun 15, 2004

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